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Reviews & Previews ARTISTS & MUSIC (God) "-all of which offer, in addition to composition "I Feel A Heartache" are R &B, a taste of rock and alternative pop S P O T L I G H T S P O T L I G H T stone country bedrock. Like Heather that may help the vocalist reach her Myles on Rounder Records, Leigh sounds potential crossover audience. Other note- to the barroom born. Alternately sultry worthy tracks include "Strawberry" and abrasive, she describes herself as an AL3VS "Ain't Nothin' Changed," "Telephone," "ol' hillbilly chick." As such, she's a wel- ECzITEI BY PAUL '/E RNA and "Wickedness." In addition to the come addition to the Nashville country artist's rock and alternative influences, scene. P O P she showcases I(II I-i her formidable opera il PHISH skills on "Memorabilia." An impressive i Ìli ÌiÌÌ`I`;II IIÍ The Story Of The Ghost debut. HLKBIL Hatll,(K J A Z Z PRODUCER: Andy Wallace ANDY SUMMERSNICTOR BIGLIONE Elektra 62297 Strings Of Desire A live act par excellence, Vermont rock RAP PRODUCERS: Andy Summers, Victor Biglione, Eddie King quartet Phish has always done better at A TRIBE CALLED QUEST RCA Victor 09026-63326 the box office than at radio or retail. The Love Movement "Strings Of Desire" finds ex- Police man Accordingly, its albums are not where the PRODUCER: Ummah Andy Summers and pal Victor Biglione band shines (with the exception of the Jive 01241 -41638 dueting on acoustic guitars, blessing a stellar "A Picture Of Nectar "). Recorded Laid -back and to the bone, Quest's fifth, KENNY LATTIMORE HERBIE HANCOCK variety of standards with a singing, danc- to reflect Phish's improvisational and final, album goes far in redeeming its From The Soul Of Man Gershwin's World ing grace. Yet the affair's lighthearted, last by it approach, this latest studio outing is a outing taking down to old-school PRODUCERS: Kenny Lattimore, Colin Gayle PRODUCER: Robert Sadin unassuming character masks some serious mixed bag. At its worst, it sounds like a anorexic drum -and -bass foundations that Columbia 68854 Verve 314 557 797 musicality. From the infectious bop of Diz- flashback to a mid -'70s Yes album occasionally tinker on the border between Kenny Lattimore's sophomore project, Like no one before or since, George zy Gillespie's "Night In Tunisia" to John ( "Guyute "); at its best, the record offers hip -hop and jazz and provide more riffs "From The Soul Of Man," has a song Gershwin reveled in the melting pot Lewis' touching homage "Django," Sum- engaging, harmonically rich tunes that than samples. That leaves extra space for just about every listener. Latti- that is American music: jazz, classical, mers and Biglione conjure a rainbow of stick in the mind ( "Brian And Robert," front and center for the power of love and more pulls out all the creative stops to pop -they are all part of his signature jazz hues. And well -wrought tunes from the Latin -esque "Water In The Sky "). the group's voiceline skills to shine: Q- help showcase his full vocal capacity. sound. We've been blessed with gor- Jobim, Gilberto, and Gismonti add some The latter tracks are good college and Tip's mesmerizing, syncopated flow and Much as he did on his self-titled debut, geous Gershwin records in every low -key Latin spice. Capping the disc is triple-A candidates and long -shot con- his lightly sagacious back -and -forth with Lattimore continues to target many of genre to celebrate the composer's cen- Summers' original "Samba For Counting tenders at rock and pop stations willing to Phife. The first single, "Find A his songs toward both men and tenary this year, but no tribute speaks The Days," and its charm underscores depart from their tight playlists. Despite Way" / "Stepping It Up," "Against The women. A great majority of the tracks, to the essence of the man with more how underrated the guitarist is as a solo Phish's limited commercial potential, the World," and "The Love" showcase Quest's such as "Days Like This," "Trial Sepa- inspired artistry than Herbie Han - talent. A vibrant recording only adds to band can do no wrong in the eyes of its gift for slipping hardcore vibes into expert ration," "Tomorrow," and "I Love You cock's "Gershwin's World." Reflecting the allure of this lovely album, which fans. poperaft. Busta Rhymes' turns in "Step - More Than You'll Ever Know," lay out the title, Hancock spotlights music not should appeal not only to devotees of jazz pin' " and `Busta's Lament" inject hype the intricacies of real '90s relation- only by Gershwin guitar but to fans of folk and roots music. THE CROWN PROJECT but also by those and texture, while "Give Me" (featuring ships from the black male point of who so influenced him: W.C. Handy, Gershwin On Monarch Noreaga) waxes sweetly nostalgic, recall- view The album includes the gospel - James P Johnson, Duke Ellington, and PRODUCER: Mark Gasbarro ing Quest history and implying that the LATIN Monarch 1017 flavored "Well Done," a cover of Maurice Ravel (and he spices up some breakup is amicable just another of life's George Harrison's classic "While My settings with percussion to reflect LAURA PAUSINI Appropriately, the San Francisco-based passages. label initiates a composer -salute series Guitar Gently Weeps," and the duet Gershwin's Latin bent). Hancock's Mi Respuesta PRODUCERS: with George Gershwin, whose 100th birth- "Love Will Find A Way" with Heather supporting cast is stellar, to say the Alfredo Cerruti, Dado Parisini, Laura Pausini Headley from Disney's "The Lion least: The Orpheus Chamber Orches- WEA Latina 24720 day is being celebrated this year with a C O U N T R Y King Catchy, finger -snapping groove -pop per- series of releases and events. There is a II: Simba's Pride." tra accompanies his brilliant improv DEANA CARTER meates the third Spanish album by this pleasing, eclectic jazz undertone to the on Ravel's G Major Concerto; Wayne Everything's Gonna Be Alright Italian songstress as she smartly moves proceedings on 12 Gershwin standards Shorter, James Carter, Eddie Hender- PRODUCERS: Deana Carter, Chris Farren Skynyrd guitars), and a ZZ Top groove on away from being exclusively a purveyor of from the likes of Sandi Patty, the son, and Kenny Garrett add solos; Ste- Christ- Capitol Nashville 21142 "You Still Shake Me. " 'Angels Working teary -eyed romantic ballads. Moreover, ian vie Wonder sings "St. Louis Blues"; music star who delightfully demon- The inside tray sheet of the CD glows in is - Overtime" a substantial little soap Kathy Battle intones the Prelude in C Laura Pausini's distinctive high voice is strates her show -music flair with the the dark (on the first 200,000 pressings opera road tale that even survives a kids' Sharp Minor; and Joni Mitchell wrapped in a more rich and mature deliv- satirical 'By Strauss." With songs only), and that's not the only hot thing chorus. Plus, she does a coy and sensuous embodies "The Man I Love" and ery as she cruises through a nicely bal- arranged for big bands, smaller ensem- about Deana Carter's sophomore album. remake of Melanie Safka's suggestive "Summertime" with inimitable grace anced, 13 -song set that still boasts plenty bles, an inventively scored chorus, and Continuing the same kind of mix eclectic song "Brand New Key," enlisting her best and emotional intelligence. But the of radio -ripe tunes of heightened amorous other singers-including Nashville's Tim of musical styles that made "Did I Shave little -girl voice without sounding cloying. final highlight is Hancock alone: a intentions, including the bouncing leadoff Davis -this CD is loaded with breezy My Legs For This?" so appealing, Carter There's also an added confidence and touching take on the evergreen "Em- single "Emergencia De Amor," the pulsat- work on a master's catalog of evergreens. has Southern Gothic story songs in the maturity to Carter's singing (something braceable You." ing entries "Me Siento Tan Bien" and "Strawberry Wine" vein, a fun track like 4 1998 CAST RECORDING that selling million -plus copies of a debut " Quédate Esta Noche," and the slower - "The Train Song" (featuring Lynyrd album can do). The Wizard Of Oz paced "Felicidadad." PRODUCER: Robert Sher * SARA EVANS TVT 1020 No Place That Far OK, nothing can match the power of the VITAL REISSUES® PRODUCERS: Norco Wilson, Buddy Cannon WORLD MUSIC original 1939 soundtrack performance of RCA 67653 HOSSAM RAMZY /PHIL THORNTON SLOAN more mature, shared vocals round out "The Wizard Of Oz." Before that version As one of the most talented women Immortal Egypt Smeared numbers like "The Good In Everyone" is pulled off the shelf, give a listen to this singers to emerge in country music in the PRODUCERS: Phil Thornton, Hossam Ramzy PRODUCER: Terry Pulliam and the brilliant "G Turns To D." Con- road -show cast album, which happily past two years, Sara Evans has been sur- New World Music 455 Never Records Group/Murderecords 037 tact: 212-675-5008. turns to the movie orchestrations of all the prisingly slow to get country radio play. Estimable Egyptian percussionist and That's beginning to change with the bandleader Hossam Ramzy has dozens of songs (with additional material cut from SLOAN JUNE CHRISTY cur- rent single, the title cut from "No Place discs under his own name, as well as a the film itself). With the advantage of digi- One Chord To Another Gone For The Day; The Song Is June That Far," on which she is starry backup résumé with the likes of tal -era sound, the voices of starring play- PRODUCER: not listed REISSUE PRODUCER: Michael Cuscuna joined by Vince Peter Gabriel, the Rolling Stones, and ers Mickey Rooney (the Wizard) and Never Records Group/Murderecords 24 Capitol Jazz 7243 95448/55455 Gill.